Dog training facility owner uses iPads to improve customer experience

Mark Van WyeChief Operating Officer and CTO of the Zoom Room

What do you do? I oversee all day-to-day operations of the Zoom Room, which is a dog agility training center and canine social club. We create a highly social atmosphere that promotes responsible pet ownership and fitness for both dogs and owners. It's like a gym for dogs!

Which device do you use? The iPad 2.

How long have you had it? As soon as the iPad launched, we immediately saw the enormous potential to improve our customer experience, and we now require iPads for all of our nationwide locations. My own iPad 2 was purchased the day it debuted.

How do you use your device? Here are just some examples:

We use a scanner that works with the iPad to check-in dogs into the facility for classes and other events. Because owners can handle this process, employees are free to answer questions, ring up sales and interact with dogs.

All of our nationwide locations are required to use a 3G-enabled iPad model. In the case of an Internet outage - or even a power outage - we can still run every single aspect of our business from the iPad (ringing up sales, scheduling appointments, signing people into classes, etc.).

For our Doggy Disco® and other canine social events, we use the iPad for wirelessly streamed music and sound-activated laser light effects. The iPad also supplies music to the gym and retail area throughout the day.

When lines are long, the iPad serves as a second cash register, allowing us to ring up two clients at once.

The mobility of the iPad lets us take the show on the road—we're able to gather newsletter signups or class enrollments from any remote location.

Did the iPad require any special modifications? Yes, for the iPads used in Zoom Room locations such as kiosks, rigging them for security with special hardware is required. This prevents them from walking away.

The iPads at the Zoom Room are rigged with special security hardware.

What would you do if you didn't have it? Adapt to and fully embrace whatever the latest and most flexible, powerful technology happened to be available at the time.